Plastic pot hanger and mould for manufacture thereof

ABSTRACT

A plastic pot hanger includes a support edge which has an upper edge lying in one plane and a number of elongate carrying members. Each carrying member is connected to the support edge by a deformable connection close to the upper edge and is pivotable between a rest position, wherein it lies at least practically in the plane of the upper edge, and a carrying position folded up out of this plane and wherein the support edge and the carrying members are formed integrally by injection moulding. Further, a mould is disclosed for manufacturing a plastic pot hanger. The mould includes a mould cavity for forming the support edge, wherein the part of the mould cavity forming the upper edge of the support edge and the mould cavity for the at least one carrying member are situated on a separating surface of the mould, which is a single mould.

The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Dutch patent application numbers NL 1029305 filed Jun. 21, 2005 and NL 1029661 filed Aug. 2, 2005, the entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The invention generally relates to a plastic pot hanger which comprises a number of elongate carrying members which can be connected to a pot in order to enable hanging of this pot.

BACKGROUND

Pot hangers are used in large numbers in horticulture. A plant which is planted in a pot provided with such a pot hanger can be hung at a desired position.

Arranging pot hangers on pots is difficult and time-consuming work. The object of the invention is to provide a plastic pot hanger of the above specified type which does not have these drawbacks.

SUMMARY

Because the carrying members are formed integrally with the support edge in at least one embodiment of the invention, the carrying members do not have to be attached one by one. The pot can simply be placed in the support edge while the carrying members are in the rest position. The carrying members can then be folded up out of the plane of the upper edge of the support edge and into the carrying position, whereafter the pot with pot hanger is ready for further use. Arranging of the pot hanger in this manner can take place both when the pot has yet to be provided with a plant or when this has already taken place.

Because the carrying members lie in the plane of the upper edge of the support edge they do not impede potting.

The deformable connections can be formed in suitable manner by per se known film hinges. The measure of claim 3 is preferably applied here.

According to a further suitable development of at least one embodiment, the deformable connections are embodied as pin-like elements. When the carrying members are folded up out of the rest position into the carrying position, the pin-like elements twist about a longitudinal axis.

The measure of at least one embodiment may be applied in suitable manner. The carrying members hereby remain properly fixed in both their rest position and in their folded-up carrying position. It is favourable when the carrying members remain arrested in a rest position, since they then with certainty do not impede the potting. It is moreover favourable when the carrying members remain in arrested manner in the folded-up position, since this prevents the carrying members automatically moving back gradually from the folded-up position to the rest position due to elastic phenomena in the material.

The carrying members are preferably mutually connected at their end not connected to the support edge. Folding up of the carrying members from a rest position into the carrying position can then take place in simple manner by gripping the mutually connected ends of the carrying arms and pulling them upward.

The pot with pot hanger can then be hung up using the hook.

In order to achieve a smooth progression of movement of the carrying members from the rest position into the folded-up carrying position, at least one of the elongate carrying members in at least one embodiment is preferably connected to the other carrying members or the hook member by a hinge connection. This furthermore ensures that, in the folded-up carrying position, the carrying members extend, to a considerable extent, straight from the upper edge up to the mutually connected end.

In the case that the free ends of the carrying members are connected to each other or to a hook member, at least one of the carrying members will be bent quite strongly in rest position. In order to ensure a good movement from the rest position to the carrying position and to ensure that the carrying members extend substantially straight in the carrying position, the measure of at least one embodiment is preferably further applied.

In a suitable embodiment of the pot hanger according to the invention the shape of the support edge is adapted to the shape of the top side of a pot to be accommodated, and the pot to be accommodated can rest in the support edge.

According to a further development however, it is also possible that the support edge forms part of a pot, and that the pot carrier is thus formed integrally with the associated pot by injection moulding.

At least one embodiment of the invention also relates to and provides a mould for manufacturing a plastic pot hanger as according to any of the embodiments as specified above. Such a mould comprises a mould cavity for forming the support edge, wherein the part of the mould cavity forming the upper edge of the support edge and the mould cavity for the at least one carrying member are situated on a separating surface of the mould, which is a single mould.

The manufacturing costs of the mould are hereby relatively limited. The carrying members and the hinged connections with which they are connected to the support edge can be formed in the separating surface of the mould.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be further elucidated in the following description of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pot hanger according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the pot hanger of FIG. 1, wherein the carrying members are in the rest position.

FIG. 3 shows a hinge connection at an intermediate position in one of the carrying members.

FIG. 4 shows a view according to arrow IV in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show the hinged connection V in FIG. 1 in respectively the rest position and the folded-up position of the associated carrying member.

FIG. 6 shows a detail view according to VI in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a detail view according to arrow VII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the pot hanger according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The pot hanger 1 according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a support edge 2 in which a pot for carrying can be hung. Support edge 2 is provided with a number of elongate carrying members 3, 4, 5, which are each connected to this support edge 2 by way of a pivotable connection 10.

For reasons to be described further the carrying member 5 is provided halfway along its length with a hinge 8, whereby parts 6, 7 of carrying member 5 can pivot relative to each other.

The free ends of carrying members 3-5 are connected to each other and to a hook member 11.

Pot hanger 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in a situation wherein carrying members 3-5 are in a folded-up carrying position. For this purpose carrying members 3-5 are pivoted upward relative to the situation as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the ends of the carrying members connected to support edge 2 are rotated relative to support edge 2 at the position of hinges 10.

The situation as shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as the rest position of carrying members 3-5. The carrying members herein lie in the plane of the upper edge of carrying member 2 so that they do not obstruct access to the inner space of support edge 2. In this situation a pot can be readily placed in support edge 2 and plants can be potted in the pot without hindrance from the carrying members. As soon as this has taken place, the pot hanger can be brought into the situation shown in FIG. 1 by pulling the hook member 11 upward. Carrying members 3-5 herein pivot about their respective hinges 10.

The situation as shown in FIG. 2 is that in which pot hanger 1 is formed in a mould. It will be apparent that all components of pot hanger 1 shown here lie practically in one surface, at least can be injected from one surface, the separating surface of the mould. Pot hanger 1 according to the invention can thus be formed integrally by injection moulding.

Hinge 8 is arranged in carrying member 5 in order to facilitate folding-out of this carrying member 5 and in order to ensure that carrying member 5 is relatively straight in the carrying position as shown in FIG. 1. It is thus necessary to injection mould at least one of the carrying members, in this case carrying member 5, in the folded-up form as shown in FIG. 2.

Hinge 8 can be embodied in the manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and more particularly in FIG. 6, but can also be embodied as a simple film hinge 15, as shown in FIG. 3. Hinge 8 is however recommended because it provides the option of arresting the parts 6, 7 of carrying member 5 mutually in line.

In the example embodiment shown here, carrying member 3 is also connected to hook member 11 by way of a hinged connection 16. The mould cavity corresponding with FIG. 2 is designed such that hook member 11 lies closely against support edge 2, wherein carrying member 4 and part 7 of carrying member 5 are simultaneously connected in a straight line to the bottom end of hook 11. A hinged connection 16 is applied to ensure that carrying member 3 also extends straight from hook 11 to support edge 2 when carrying members 3-5 are folded out to the position shown in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment drawn here, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 4, the upper end of carrying member 3 comprises a flat portion 17 connected to hook member 11 via two film hinges 18. As FIG. 7 shows, this portion of carrying member 3 extends so that, in the carrying position shown in FIG. 7, carrying member 3 extends straight from hook 11 to the support edge.

The example embodiments of the hinges of carrying members 3-5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b. In FIGS. 1 and 2 can be seen that the actual hinge connection is formed by a pin-like element 20 which can twist during the pivoting movement. This pin-like element 20 is connected on the side to a disc-like part 22, which is connected to support edge 2 via wall parts 24, and on the other side to a plate part 23 at the bottom end of the relevant carrying member 3-5.

Resilient brackets 25, 26 are formed on either side of this plate member 23. Together with wall parts 24 these brackets 25, 26 form arresting means, which can arrest hinge 10, or more particularly the bottom end of the relevant carrying member 3-5, in the rest position of FIG. 5 a and the carrying position of FIG. 5 b. Wall parts 24 have a height equal to the mutual distance between the outer surfaces of wall parts 24. In the position shown in FIG. 5 a the resilient brackets 25, 26 are at least practically in contact with these outer surfaces of the wall parts, and in the carrying position of FIG. 5 b the resilient brackets 25, 26 are in contact with the end surfaces of wall parts 24. In order to rotate hinge 10 from the situation in FIG. 5 a to FIG. 5 b and back again, brackets 25, 26 must be bent outward. The arresting action is achieved due to the springing back.

Hinge 8 in carrying member 5 has a similar construction. In FIG. 6, which shows this hinge in more detail, can also be seen that the actual hinge is formed by pin-like element 30 which can be twisted in the same manner. Formed on upper part 7 of carrying member 5 is formed a plate part with wall parts 31 which protrude therefrom and which in turn carry a disc-like element 32 to which the pin-like element is connected on this side. On the other side pin-like element 30 is connected to the part 6 of the carrying member. On the end of this part 6 is also formed a resilient bracket 33 which engages in corresponding manner on the side surfaces of wall parts 31. In the position shown in FIG. 6 the situation will hereby be arrested where parts 6 and 7 lie mutually in line, and with a rotation through 180° the resilient bracket 33 will lie against the opposite side surface of the other wall part 31 in order to arrest this situation.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention, wherein upper edge 41 forms part of a pot 42. According to the invention a pot with a pot hanger 40 formed integrally therewith can thus be formed as one whole by injection moulding. The pot hanger further comprises carrying members 43, 44, 45, which are connected to support edge 41 of pot 42 by way of hinges 46. The pot hanger can here also be placed in the carrying position shown in FIG. 8 by pulling hook 47 upward from the situation according to FIG. 2. In the rest position according to FIG. 2 access to pot 42 is completely clear and a plant can for instance be placed in pot 42 in unobstructed manner. Once this has taken place the situation of FIG. 8 can be obtained by pulling hook 47 upward.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. Plastic pot hanger, comprising: a support edge, including an upper edge lying in one plane and including a number of elongate carrying members, each carrying member being connected to the support edge by a deformable connection close to the upper edge and being pivotable between a rest position, each carrying member lying at least practically in the plane of the upper edge, wherein a carrying position folded up out of this plane and wherein the support edge and the carrying members are formed integrally by injection moulding.
 2. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deformable connections are film hinges.
 3. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the film hinges are formed in each case between a protrusion on the upper edge and an end of a carrying member.
 4. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deformable connections are pin-like elements.
 5. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the position of the hinge connection, arresting members are formed to arrest the carrying member in at least the carrying position or the rest position.
 6. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the deformable connections are pin-like elements, wherein the arresting members are formed by a pair of wall parts on the support edge which lie on either side of the pin-like element and a pair of wall parts on the carrying member which lie on either side of the pin-like element, and wherein the wall parts of the one pair fall inside the wall parts of the other pair and have a width substantially equal to the distance between the wall parts of the other pair.
 7. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying members are mutually connected at their end not connected to the support edge.
 8. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mutually connected ends are connected to a hook member.
 9. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the elongate carrying members is connected by a hinge connection.
 10. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the elongate carrying members is provided at an intermediate position with a hinge.
 11. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support edge forms part of a pot.
 12. Mould for manufacturing a plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a mould cavity for forming the support edge, wherein the part of the mould cavity forming the upper edge of the support edge and the mould cavity for the at least one carrying member are situated on a separating surface of the mould, which is a single mould.
 13. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the elongate carrying members is connected by a hinge connection.
 14. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the elongate carrying members is provided at an intermediate position with a hinge.
 15. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the elongate carrying members is provided at an intermediate position with a hinge.
 16. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein at the position of the hinge connection, arresting members are formed to arrest the carrying member in at least the carrying position or the rest position.
 17. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 16, wherein the deformable connections are pin-like elements, wherein the arresting members are formed by a pair of wall parts on the support edge which lie on either side of the pin-like element and a pair of wall parts on the carrying member which lie on either side of the pin-like element, and wherein the wall parts of the one pair fall inside the wall parts of the other pair and have a width substantially equal to the distance between the wall parts of the other pair.
 18. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrying members are mutually connected at their end not connected to the support edge.
 19. Plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support edge forms part of a pot.
 20. Mould for manufacturing a plastic pot hanger as claimed in claim 2, comprising: a mould cavity for forming the support edge, wherein the part of the mould cavity forming the upper edge of the support edge and the mould cavity for the at least one carrying member are situated on a separating surface of the mould, which is a single mould. 